Director of Fund Development

SER Metro-Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SER Metro-Detroit in Detroit is seeking a Director of Fund Development to lead the design and execution of a comprehensive fundraising plan. The role focuses on expanding public and private support, guiding campaigns, and stewarding donors to grow the organization's resources for workforce development and education.

The ideal candidate will have a track record in grant writing, donor cultivation, and multi-source funding strategy, with strong leadership and communication skills to drive

Qualifications

• A minimum of 6-8 years experience leading significant development opportunities preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Significant understanding of workforce development and education fields, and considerable experience cultivating and maintaining relationships with funders.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Preferred experience in program design, development and implementation.
• Mental ability to handle pressures related to meeting deadlines, problem solving and coordinating multiple initiatives.
• Evening and/or weekend work hours may be required.
• Michigan driver’s license and transportation required.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement resource development strategies to increase and diversify funding from multiple sources, including governmental, foundation, corporate and individual, with a long-term goal of growing the organization.
• Conduct research of government agencies, private and family foundations to identify potential funding sources.
• Analyze current and potential fund development opportunities.
• Lead all large capacity grant‑writing activities, writing funding proposals with input and support from program staff. Provide guidance to leadership when they engage in writing proposals.
• Create and strengthen relationships with new corporate and philanthropic funders and assume the leadership role, as assigned, in corporate capital campaign projects.
• Support a positive SER brand identity by developing brand standards, maintaining an effectively updated web presence, leveraging opportunities for participation in conferences, and reaching significant influentials to capture opportunities.
• Maintain knowledge of trends and promising practices in the field of workforce development and education. Remain abreast of current labor market and occupational trends.
• Establish annual revenue projections/goals that meet the organization’s needs.
• Prepare progress reports outlining all fundraising activities and their status for SER leadership/management.
• Contribute to the team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Grant writing

Donor engagement

Leadership

Research skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Grant management software

MS Office

Job description

About this position

JOB TITLE: Director of Fund Development

LOCATION: 9301 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48210

REPORTS TO: Assistant Vice President of Youth Services

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Regular

APPROVED DATE: 03/25/2025

JOB SUMMARY: The Fund Development Director is responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive business and resource development plan. The successful candidate will be responsible for resource development for both public and private support. This will include assuming the leadership of fundraising campaigns, identifying and stewarding donors, and the cultivation of new and expanded opportunities. S/he must have a strong track record in effectively managing multiple priorities and in creating and executing strategic short and long‑term plans.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and implement resource development strategies to increase and diversify funding from multiple sources, including governmental, foundation, corporate and individual, with a long-term goal of growing the organization.
• Conduct research of government agencies, private and family foundations to identify potential funding sources.
• Analyze current and potential fund development opportunities.
• Lead all large capacity grant‑writing activities, writing funding proposals with input and support from program staff. Provide guidance to leadership when they engage in writing proposals.
• Create and strengthen relationships with new corporate and philanthropic funders and assume the leadership role, as assigned, in corporate capital campaign projects.
• Support a positive SER brand identity by developing brand standards, maintaining an effectively updated web presence, leveraging opportunities for participation in conferences, and reaching significant influentials to capture opportunities.
• Maintain knowledge of trends and promising practices in the field of workforce development and education. Remain abreast of current labor market and occupational trends.
• Establish annual revenue projections/goals that meet the organization’s needs.
• Prepare progress reports outlining all fundraising activities and their status for SER leadership/management.
• Contribute to the team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 6-8 years experience leading significant development opportunities preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Significant understanding of workforce development and education fields, and considerable experience cultivating and maintaining relationships with funders.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Preferred experience in program design, development and implementation.
• Mental ability to handle pressures related to meeting deadlines, problem solving and coordinating multiple initiatives.
• Evening and/or weekend work hours may be required.
• Michigan driver’s license and transportation required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a phone, computer keyboard, and other office equipment. Must be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This job operates in a normal school environment with a noise level, which is at times, moderately loud with little discomfort due to noise, dirt, dust and the like. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties and responsibilities that may be performed by a person so classified. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.